Any pics Dave? -Cath
On 25/11/2009, at 9:41 AM, Dave Donald wrote: > At Boonah we use an Auto-tow system with a 2-to-1 reduction and rope. The > rope goes from the glider, around a fixed pulley (fixed in the ground but > spins), under the F250 which has a pulley mounted horizontally and then back > to a fixed point (the bottom of the fixed pulley) and attached by a shackle > that can rotate. The launch vehicle is an F250 v8 that does the launch > effortlessly. The rope is 10mm poly and absorbs any surges/thermals and > provides a very smooth launch. The good thing about this system is that the > launch vehicle actually heads towards the glider (from the other end of the > strip) as part of the launch. The glider is always visible during the launch. > When the glider releases the launch vehicle continues on and lays the rope at > the launch point for the next launch. The impact on the surface of the strip > (grass) due to the rope is minimal as are the sand tyres on the F250. While > not as strictly 'reflex' launching as requested, it is still a very useful > way of getting aircraft in the air (for $8). > > Regards, > > Dave > > From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. > <[email protected]> > Cc: [email protected] > Sent: Wed, 25 November, 2009 8:38:59 AM > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Reflex car launching > > Ron, > > I'm doing some work with synthetic helicopter long lines that have zero > stretch so there is no stored energy in case they break. > > Will ask some questions about the rope suitability. it is far better than > steel cables. > > Was looked at as an alternate for aerotow at a couple of nsw clubs. I did a > lot of work with Eric Sweet at one site using a pully system to keep the > vehicle speed down and using the mechanical advantage. > > There was some postings or pictures on a chat site, possibly this one in the > early days showing pulley systems and synthetic rope. > > Cheers > > Peter Heath
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